Over Baggage Fear and LBC Express to the Rescue

Saturday, a day before our flight we have to wake up early to clean the apartment by throwing all the garbage and washing the bedding. I also threw my old shoes and slippers as I can't bring them anymore even I like too. My bag is already full, I have two luggage, one backpack, one body bag, one computer bag and camera bag to my husband's irritation because they are too many to carry and I might be in over baggage.

It took me time to get out of our apartment because of too many bags I have to carry. My husband didn't help me until we get out our apartment building, my husband repetitively asked me how can I carry my things when we travel as he will not help me if I am expecting a help from him.

Left no choice I tried to contact Edelyn while we are in the bus going to Incheon if they are open during Saturday, unfortunately they are not.  With her help,  I am able to connect with their new employee (ate Marlene) and I think with their boss permission they are able to open their  office. I was relived and thankful to them, although at first I am thinking of leaving the bag to Edelyn or to someone in Korea that wanted it, it is better than leaving the things in the hostel. My husband agreed with my idea as it will save me paying for the box fee.

To cut the story short, after reaching our hostel we immediately went back to the airport where the hostel employee pick us up after we arrived from Icheon.  We took the subway to Hyehwa, my husband carrying the small bag and me a plastic bag with towel, toiletries bag and my personal documents. The trip took so long and it was quite tiring for me to hold the bag so it accidentally slip to my embarrassment because my things was thrown in the floor train. Ha-ha

My husband was already annoyed with me because instead of resting he is traveling with me to Hyehwa, and when we reached Hyehwa he was more agitated because there are lot of people and traffic on the cross street. When we finally reached the LBC office I was happy to see Edelyn and ate Marlene, they are very friendly and helpful. I am little embarrassed for disturbing them on their rest day, and a sign of being grateful I would like to give them chocolates but they declined. I don't know how to pay their kindness, so I just say my sincere thank you again. Nothing new, because it is already my habit giving token to someone, I originally would like to give them souvenirs but I already sent them home so I was left no choice.  Thanks again sis Edelyn and Ate Marlene!

Well, the box should be shipped on Friday but due to unseen problems it was moved the next week, and today it should be a week already since it was shipped if the shipping was made last week.

LBC Korea branch is located at: 1F, 102-1 Hyehwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Korea. Jumbo Box size – 73 x 52 x 73 Hotline/Contact #: 1661-5899

Incheon Airport Oceanside Hotel

Our flight doesn't leave until the next day so we stayed at Incheon Airport Oceanside Hotel to try another place to stay near the airport, they picked us up in the airport after we asked the information to call them for pickup. We waited for few minutes, and to cut the story short we just dropped our bags after we check-in and took the things I want to send home, they also called a taxi for us back to the airport and from the airport we took the express train to Seoul station and then to Hyehwa to drop my things in the LBC office.

[This is how our hotel room looks like after I just threw my things out of my bag, to get the stuff I have to mail home before our flight]

The hotel is quite nice with a good design and wooden theme, even the elevator is made of wood.  The hotel says they are 8 minutes from the airport but I think it is about 12-15 minutes from the airport. The wifi in the room given to us is not plugged in or ready to use, we have to tinker it so we could use the wifi. On my point of view, hotel staff in the lobby are fine but not that nice like the previous airport hotel we stayed in.

We are both busy surfing the net when one hotel staff knocked in our door to asked if we have a child in the room because one of their guest complain that it was loud in our floor. We said no, because my husband and I was the only occupant in the room and when we check-in the guy was the one who received us in the lobby so we just shook are head of disbelief of him not remembering it, although I am little scared because before the guy knocked in our door the motion sensor light turn on while both my husband and I is in our bed and surfing the net (ghost?).

One of the classic thing in the room is, it has a sink, a sink in the bedroom just beside the sofa seen in the above picture.

Furthermore the hotel is near a convenient store and some barbecue place, if you want a quiet place to relax before your flight booking at Oceanside Hotel is a good idea.

Accident Prone for Being a Clumsy Person

Clumsiness can be quite a challenge to deal with. I admit of being clumsy all the time knocking things over, spilling drinks, dropping food and tripping and stumbling over almost anything. There are times I hurt myself because of my clumsiness like the other night I accidentally had a painful split lesson. I accidentally stumble on our printers power adapter, I lose my balance and slid. I fell on my left knee while the other is stretch upfront it was like I am splitting. I hurriedly jump into the bed after accident mending my painful knee and waist sometimes I wish there’s foam sheets from Foam Factory installed in our floor so I won’t get hurt every time I stumble over.

[Image source daleargot.com]

I am expecting my husband will laugh on me but he was in shocked and probably feel bad when I roll in the bed shouting in pain. When he eventually realized what happened and I felt a little calm the teasing started, asking me for rein-enactment.

My Second LBC Jumbo Box is Ready for Pickup

Within the success of sending my first LBC jumbo box to the Philippines (read here Sending Balikbayan Box LBC Korea to Philippines) and within 5 weeks left before we leave Korea I am in hiatus mode to send my remaining stuff and "pasalubong" to my family and relatives. I have informed LBC last Wednesday that my box is ready for pickup but because I am going to Seoul on Thursday and probably Friday too, I have told them to pick it up on Monday. But when I came home from Seoul yesterday, I have no appointment on Friday so I immediately informed Edelyn that my box can be pick-up today (Friday).

Tekbe ajossi came early morning today (Friday) bringing the new jumbo box I have ordered, yeah right I have thought I only need 2 jumbo box to send my things home but it turns out I need more. The second box was just for pasalubong and my personal things, I still have things left to be sent home.  My second box was not pick-up today as the tekbe ajossi's truck is already full of boxes, was informed he will pick up my box tomorrow. No problem for me, I am around the house the whole weekend. :)

LBC Korea branch is located at: 1F, 102-1 Hyehwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul Korea. Jumbo Box size – 73 x 52 x 73

Well, as expected my box was not collected the next day because it was weekend. The tekbe ajossi returned on Monday to get my box.

Shopping at KC Philippine Store near the Philippine Embassy, Seoul

When living abroad one of the things we missed is food aside from our love ones. In Korea there are few Asian stores that sell Asian food items you can mostly find them in a place where there's an Asian community.  Anyway, while working with my documents to be notarized I have decided to pay a visit at the KC Filipino store just beside the Han Bi Sa notarization office. It is not my first time in the store, my friend and I already ate there when I did my passport renewal.  I think this was my 4th time at the Filipino store, the third time was when I bought polvoron the other day, but this time I want to eat local Filipino viand.

I was happy to see that there's cooked vegetables left "pakbit" so I have ordered for takeout and it cost ₩5, 000 for a small serving, it  doesn't even meet the ₱10. 00 cooked vegetables in the Philippines but it doesn't matter because this is Korea so the price is different.  I've ordered one serving of "papaitan" too which I forgot to ask how much. Seeing buko salad for sale I have asked and ordered 2 servings, ₩5, 000 each per serving. It was been a long time since I had this dessert and I just want to treat myself for a job well done in document notarization and one step closer to travel to Europe.

[Pinakbit and 1 serving of buko salad]

Well, looking at the Filipino local items in the store the impulsive shopper me just ask and buy items that I think to be useful.  I have bought a PH Care Feminine wash for ₩12, 000 a little expensive than the ₩8, 000 PH Care Feminine Wash in an Asian store in Itaewon station exit 3, if I am not mistaken about the exit. I have bought my last bottle from there with the help of a friend and I am little lazy to drop there or in the Asian store in our place. I saw Victoria's secret cologne as well, but when I asked it is kind expensive for me I can buy them in less amount online or in Hyehwa.

Anyway, I was asked what is my job just to start a  conversation like if I am a factory worker, I laughingly replied I am PAL (read palamunin), I am not allowed to work because I am in dependent visa.

[Papaitan before and after removing the soup]

When I saw Ponds facial foam I have bought it too for ₩10, 000 although I knew I can buy them in gmarket for 1+1 in the same price, I am just in a happy mood because I can finally apply for Schengen visa.  When I pay at the counter the total cost of my order is ₩48, 000 so it seems one serving of "papaitan" cost ₩11, 000.  Exiting the door, I saw monggo beans and I bought one for ₩5, 000 I have thought of cooking monggo beans at home.

That's my shopping haul a little bit pricey,  probably if I bought Korean food, there's more food in my bag, but Filipino food is a food I can't eat every day in Korea so I have no choice but to spend and Hyehwa informal Filipino market is only around on Sunday and Wednesday is far over to Sunday. So when my husband asked me how much do I spend on my shopping loot, I didn't tell an amount I just said cheap, I might get scolded or be called crazy for spending too much despite it is my own money and not his.

Well, I have read once from online community of Filipinas in Facebook that it is a bit expensive to buy in KC Philippine store , I guess because of its location and it is a restaurant with a store unlike in Hyehwa informal market (see Hyehwa shopping here) where viand only cost ₩5, 000 per serving is a market and only open during Sunday. Not sure how much does it cost to dine in Kusina Filipino Restaurant in Seoul, I should try it next time.

Document Translation and Notarization in Seoul

The hope of traveling to Europe disappeared when I was informed in the Philippine embassy that documents from the Philippines must only be notarized/authenticated in the Philippines.  I have to submit a notarized marriage certificate in applying for Schengen visa and if I can't get it in time I can't apply for a visa and travel to Europe with my husband. We have already planned that I have to go home to the Philippines to get my documents to be notarized and I have to do it soon,  because our Korean visa will expire in less than 2 months.

I have ranted my sadness in Facebook and some friends sympathized with me, I have asked a friend that migrated to the US few  months ago on where she had her documents notarized.  I was informed she had it done in Itaewon through an attorney,  with this information I have seen a beam light of hope that I can complete the requirements without going home to the Philippines.

I went to Seoul on Monday to look for the place where my friend had her documents notarized, but it seems the guy was not around anymore so I went to the travel agency just beside a restaurant but it was closed, I mean nobody answers when I buzz the doorbell.  So I went to the KC Filipino store to ask for a  place I could get my documents notarized, before asking I bought one bag of Goldilocks polvoron I have been eyeing to buy this snack in Hyehwa long time ago but I always set it aside for other local foods.

Anyway, I was told that there's an office (HAN BI SA) beside the store that do notarization when I went in the agent was out for lunch. I waited, but decided to go out when I feel hot inside.  To cut the story short, I return and ask for notarization to the woman at the first desk. The initial cost is ₩55, 000 if I want the notarized documents to be mailed to our home, was told that I will receive the documents on Wednesday, but I can't wait for one more day so I have asked if I can pick it up the next day (Tuesday) so the payment cost was retracted to ₩45, 000.

I was surprised because my friend told me that notarization only cost ₩20, 000 per page, it turns out I have to pay for translation too so the documents will be notarized.  So the breakdown is ₩20, 000 for translation and ₩25, 000 for notarization.

Later in the evening I received a call that my document is not yet available for pickup the next day, so I have to pick it up on Wednesday.

Quick Visit to Philippine Embassy, Seoul

With the adrenaline rush running through my vein and with the desire of traveling and experiencing the other culture, I went to the Philippine embassy  to inquire about the notarization and red ribbon of documents.  I took bus #3 from the bus stop across  Noksapyeong subway station exit 3, one more stop before I descend to the embassy I went to the door so I will not miss the stop. I am hesitant if I am going to push the red button or not, well, I just thought it is already given that I am getting off by standing right in the door, but was disappointed when the bus didn't stop so I have no choice but to get off at the stop in front of the Hyatt Hotel. Guess what? It turns out the driver cannot open the door because I am standing right to it, I mean where it is folded. Silly me!

Anyway, I immediately run towards the Philippine embassy and what welcomed me is a closed door with a note that the front door will be the main door effective October 2013, chasing my breath I run back at the front door and saw two Korean guys in the receiving area I say hello (courteous me) but didn’t receive a single response, I step forward and back when I don't know here to go and that’s where I asked what floor is the Philippine embassy on the two guys, just get the “upstairs reply”.  Reaching up I don’t know which door, should I open, I am about to open the door where I saw someone coming out when another door open and one of my fellow men told me that it was the door where they went out, I said my thank you and get  in.  I took a number and read the forms and everything hanged inside the embassy. The embassy was renovated,  I like their new room, now it is well lit and friendly as the officers in charge are reachable without a glass blocking the counters.  I have read about authentication and red ribbon and I was relieved that I can get in Seoul, but I was dismayed when I was told only DFA can do it and it should be done in the Philippines. I know I should ask about the red ribbon thingy I just read, but it slipped already on my mind, a lot of worries with my papers, lack of proper sleep, anesthesia in my body and being forgetful.

What  a bad day.  Yeah, right, I have to go home to the Philippines  to have our NSO marriage contract authenticated, I am already calculating the fare, hotel and process where to get it, the friendly officer also said once it was red ribbon in DFA they can authenticate it in PH embassy (Seoul) if it is needed to be used in Korea. I didn’t hide my disappointment anymore, I felt really tired I have been traveling, walking and running since 7 o'clock in the morning,  I took a deep breath with drooping shoulders, then I was asked where do I need it.

Well, I left the embassy with cloudy mind,  when I went out the door not sure if the guy in the receiving area talking to me or to the woman beside her. I didn’t look back the world is on my shoulder, I am pretty sad. Well, I am able to return to the subway still in one piece, although I almost missed my station stopped on second time.  My mind was really pretty occupied luckily the door didn’t close quickly it seems it was waiting for me because when I went out after all the passengers went out the door closes and the train left. It seems the world feels my somber feeling. 

I forgot to snap a photo of the embassy front facade and the back door, I was really preoccupied with my worries in normal situation I am usually quick enough to take a snap.

Update:

I just found from a friend that I can have my documents authenticated/notarized  in Seoul through Attorney's office. I felt relieved that I don't need to go home and spend $500 for a plane ticket just to get $2.35 authenticated documents!

Shopping at Artbox Icheon

Last Sunday I went to downtown Icheon and after shopping at Daiso I walked through the shopping street and look around what's on sale. When I reached Watsons I was tempted to go inside but thinking I just spend $30 in Daiso and shopping in Gmarket is cheaper it stops me and I continue walking until I reached Naughty Cat accessory store. I was also tempted to go inside but thinking I don't need anything from the store I continue walking but seeing a newly opened shop beside Dickies stops me. The shoe store was gone already, the last time I passed it is under renovation and now a new shop is already opened. Within four years in Icheon I already see how shops closed and new shop open, business is not good all the time. I just took a picture of the newly open ARTBOX shop and go, but after a few steps I walked back and went inside the shop, the impulsive me can't control myself again. I have thought from the shop name I can find Korean art inside like cards, stationaries or other items to display.

There's  a lot of shoppers and curious shoppers inside, I took a small shopping basket thinking if the items are cheap, I can buy a few but I have already reached the end of the store I can't find anything good it is basically like Daiso but the items in Artbox are more expensive and most of the items have no prices written on them which is quite a turn off,  I will not pick an item I like and be surprised of the cost when I have to pay, I should say Artbox is more about Olive Young, Naughty Cat, Daiso and Barunson combine, which are all few meters away from Artbox.

Artbox have beauty and makeup section, accessories, school supply items, bags and luggages, candies and even few house supplies like in Daiso.  I have to walked twice on the shelves to see what's good, when I found scented candles I took two of lavender scented candle. My husband wishes the other night to have a lavender scent in our apartment so he can sleep, there are times he can't sleep and it makes him grumpy in the morning.

I continue checking the aisles again I maybe missed something, I went to perfume section and try the tester. I tried four different perfumes and I am about to buy the scent I'd like when I found the cheaper perfume below the display cabinet, it has been just too bad there's no tester for them. Oh well, I just follow my instinct and  pick the purple box and went to the counter, service is not that great, a little slow. I spent about $18 for my haul after paying I left, while walking I saw Missha on holiday sale and it didn't stop me to check what's for grab, I spent too much already for one day, it should be enough.

Looking at the photos I took, it seems I missed to visit the second floor section of Artbox, I'll probably check it next time I went to downtown.

Ottogi Hot Cake Mix

We've been wanting to eat hot cake since the last 4 years but looking in the hot cake mix in every Korean supermarket we are just left in a corner wishing for the day we can finally buy a hot cake mix. It is not about the price it is about the product description and how to cook it, my husband and I can't read or speak Hangul.

Well few days ago my friend in Korea who now resides in the US shared the photo of hot cake she just cooked for late night snacks.  I've told her about our ordeal and she happily shared her recipes, so when my husband came home from work I opened up of having hot cake on our Friday cheat day, he is a little unwilling because he said it is a different mix but I insisted that I can translate the description written in the package by using virtual Korean keyboard.

So when we shopped for groceries we scanned the hot cake mix for a good deal, Ottogi Hot Cake Mix is the best deal we could get so we bought one package which is 500g and two bottle of Ottogi Cake Syrup.  When we reached home, I carefully copied the procedure at the back using the virtual Korean keyboard and translate it  using Google.  It helps but the translation is not well translated, it is not easy to understand it is such a headache!

Oh well, when I got tired understanding the English translation I opted on searching in the internet and voila in just few key strokes I found what I need about Ottogi Hot Cake Mix.

▶ Product Description

•  Avoid direct sunlight, store in cool place.
• After opening, reseal and store it in the refrigerator.

▶ To Prepare

1. Mix 2 egg with 270cc of milk or water.
2. Pour 500g of hotcake mix and mix well with 1 egg.
3. Fry it in a low heat the dough for 2-3 minutes and turn it upside down and heat it again for 2 minutes.

So when Friday came we followed the instruction above and we are able to make our how hot cake as Friday treat. Having no whisk to mix the ingredients didn't stop us.

Using EyesMobile Prepaid Card

As I have blogged a few days ago I bought EyesMobile prepaid card at an Asian Store even though I don't know how to use it, it should not be my first time if I didn't return the prepaid card I bought a month ago in Itaewon. Yeah right, when my husband and I went to Seoul to eat lunch as a birthday treat for me I also took the chance to buy load at the phone store in  Itaewon exit 3.  I was handed a prepaid card, while waiting for the train and looking to the card configuring how to use it, I realized that there's really no way I can use it so I run quickly to exit 3, luckily I was not charged again on my subway card.

When I reached the phone store I am literally chasing my breath and I can't speak so I just do sign language and create sounds. I think the older male felt slighted and told me to speak because he can understand English. So I did, and after which I was gasping for air, releasing the pressure in my chest.  Haha, anyway the load was sent directly to my mobile phone after the young female call someone.

The other day, I decided to use the prepaid card but I don't know how to activate the card number so I dialed the Customer center for foreigners (080-807-1234) written at the back of the card, I pressed 2 for English and so on. I was able to speak to Customer Representative and share my ordeal, I was asked if I want a  recharge, I replied yes and was asked for my mobile number twice because I took long time to respond as I am digging for my card number in my wallet.

One thing I learned from calling the customer service is they call load as recharged.  In the Philippines we normally call it load or reload, now I learned that if I dial the customer service again I will pressed 2 for English and then pressed 1 for recharged.

Buying a New Scale

My husband and I bought a new scale when our old one stop working despite of having a new battery. Our new scale is solar power and we are hoping we can use this longer. What confuses me though when I weigh myself at home my weight is less than when I weigh myself in the gym. It has 1 kilogram difference so I don't know which one is right, well I guess scales has different weighing system.

Anyway for your own information there are different scales according to its uses, there are food retail scales that can be used for food, fruits and in the kitchen, weight bathroom scales for fitness and infants, industrial scale for shipping, medical and laboratory scales and special scaled that are used for wrestling and weighing jewelries.

EyesMobile Prepaid Card

The other day I went to downtown to do overseas transfer from my husband Korean account to his account in Canada.  I can't do anymore excuses not to do it because I have done it once, the bank was not full so I took the chance to get new bank book as his bank book was already finished. I am able to get one but of course not able to sign the bank book as my husband's owns it.  Transferring money overseas is easy I can do it in the ATM machine in just few clicks.  After transferring money overseas I went to the family owned supermarket to buy frozen chicken breast and headed directly to bus stop, I went to Asian store just beside it and bought some Filipino treats on my husband's permission, I already asked him before going to downtown to let me spend ₩10,000 of goodies in-exchange of not buying groceries (for me) on shopping day.

I only bought few sardines, water turnips and pancit bihon. I also look for prepaid card and I was glad to find EyesMobile prepaid card because it only means I don't need to go to Itaewon just to buy  a load. I bought one prepaid card for ₩10,000 despite the fact that I don't know how to use it, I just thought I'll figure it out when I already need to use it.  The EyesMobile prepaid card can only be used in Korea, US, Japan, China, Russia, Mongolia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

Honestly, I would like to buy a card that I can use to call Philippines but I can't find a TNT prepaid card, and I am not sure if I  can use the other cards in Korea so I just stick to Eyes Mobile because the sim card that was given to me when I bought a phone is also EyesMobile plus my friend had told me that when I buy a load I should tell that my card is EyesMobile because there are different type of load/card.

Read more: Using EyesMobile Prepaid Card

Watching Great British Bake Off

If there's one thing my husband and I in common that is  the love in watching baking show, we are the last one to know that there's already fourth season of the Great British Bake off.  My husband immediately downloaded all the episodes of the said baking show and we have watched episode by episode.

We are fans of the bake off challenge, we have watched the American and Australian bake off as well. Of course while watching my husband and I has one or two bakers we would like to win, when Frances won my husband believed she really has the talent and she is really a baker from within.

Cheating with Diet Plan and Buying Instant Meal

The other night my husband feel bored of eating the same food again and again from his diet plan so he asked me to buy him an instant meal and dumplings at the nearby convenience store but as usual I went out buying another food more than what is asked to me. I bought cheese dog because I have thought my husband will like it as a few weeks ago we are craving for cheese dogs, I also bought onion rings for myself while the soft drink in is a freebie from the meal.

My husband didn’t eat the cheese dog because he thought I bought it for myself, so I’ve eaten it the next day as well the onion rings.

Sending a Balikbayan Box from Korea to the Philippines with LBC Korea

With less than five months left before we leave Korea, we had already started packing the things we no longer used. Instead of waiting until the last minute, I decided to slowly send some of our belongings back home to the Philippines.

A few days ago, I mailed one box through EMS, but I still had three more boxes waiting to be sent.

I had already sorted everything into different boxes. The first box contained souvenirs and travel magazines, the second was mostly clothes, while the third was a mixture of everything else—books, shampoo, lotions, and other personal items.

Trying LBC Korea for My Balikbayan Boxes

The other day, I decided to try LBC Korea instead of using EMS again. I called their hotline and ordered two large boxes for my belongings.

I decided to give LBC a try because of my previous experience with EMS. The last few boxes I had sent through EMS had been opened, and unfortunately, some items were missing. Even the box I had mailed just a few days earlier was still in transit at that time.

Because of that experience, I thought it might be worth trying another courier service. Since we were already preparing to leave Korea, I wanted a more convenient way to send our things home to the Philippines.

I decided that I would write about my LBC Korea balikbayan box experience once everything arrived. I was especially curious about how long the shipment would take and whether everything would arrive safely.

Thankfully, my experience turned out well. My boxes were shipped to the Philippines, and when my family received them, all of my items arrived complete. That was a huge relief!

LBC Balikbayan Box vs. EMS

One thing that caught my attention about LBC Korea was the way they charged for the shipment.

With EMS, shipping costs are generally based on the weight of the package. With LBC's balikbayan box service, the price was based on the size of the box and the destination, rather than simply charging by the kilogram.

At the time I sent my boxes, I was quoted ₩120,000 for one large/jumbo box going to Manila and Luzon, while shipments to Visayas and Mindanao cost ₩140,000, regardless of how heavy the box was.

For someone sending a lot of belongings home, this seemed like a more practical option because I could fill the box without worrying about every additional kilogram.

Sending Our Things Home Before Leaving Korea

Moving from one country to another is not easy, especially after living somewhere for several years. You accumulate clothes, books, souvenirs, personal items, and so many little things that you don't realize how much you have until it's time to pack everything.

With only a few months left in Korea, sending our belongings home little by little made the move feel more manageable.

It was also a little emotional going through those boxes. Some contained things I had collected during our years in Korea—souvenirs, magazines, clothes, and other memories from the life we had built there.

At that point, sending balikbayan boxes wasn't just about getting our belongings from Korea to the Philippines. It was also a reminder that our six-year chapter in Korea was slowly coming to an end.

LBC Korea Branch

At the time of my original post, the LBC Korea branch I used was located at:

1F, 102-1 Hyehwa-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

The hotline number I called was 1661-5899.

Note: These branch details, telephone numbers, and shipping rates are from the time of my original experience and may have changed.

Insufficient Address: Return to Sender

My husband came home today with a brown envelope in his hand, the moment he told me that it was meant for me I feel excited already to see where it came from.  But seeing the familiar envelope made me realized it was a RETURN TO SENDER mail, it was a failed delivery because of insufficient address.

I immediately contacted my friend who maybe patiently waiting for this mail about the delivery failure.  It turns out she forgot to write the street address, so I have to mail the postcards again whenever I went to downtown.

Shopping at Lotte Super and Forgetting the Wallet at Home

I am being forgetful these days, it was been a few weeks already since I shopped alone for our groceries.  Yesterday I decided to go to Lotte Super first before shopping at the Nong Hyup Supermarket as I want to buy a jar of peanuts or sunflower seeds. I am almost at Lotte Super when I remember that I forgot to bring my husband's wallet instead of going home I just went inside and look for the food I want I still have few wons on my wallet. But of course I have to go home again to get the wallet as my money is not enough for groceries unlike those times I forgot to bring my husband's wallet I have cash on me.

[Lotte Super in Shinha-ri, Icheon]

When I opened our door, my husband immediately asks me if I forgot something and he started laughing on how did I forget to bring the money.  Lol, Anyway I went to Nong Hyup and shopped for groceries all I bought for myself is milk as I think I have enough food for one more week.

Pet Adoption: Adopting a Pet in Korea

Owning a pet is the dream of most people and the process of acquiring one from a breeder is not easy, they are sometimes expensive and full of frantic activity. While, in the province owning a pet is easy all you need to do is ask for one newborn pup or kitten from a neighbor, they're usually given for free unless the animal has a breed which are usually sold for a certain price.

Well buying a pet is not always the answer because there are several animals that have no homes or people to care for them. If you are planning to own a pet I would suggest to look for animal shelter around you, not just cheaper but you are also able to help for these animals by giving them home and family to live in. I am a pet person, I love dogs and cats since I am a little child because I have grown up having them at home and when I moved here in Korea with my husband cuddling a dog or kitten is one of the things I missed to do. I have been asking my husband to get me a kitten as he doesn't like dogs (probably his tired hearing the constant barking of our neighbor's dogs) but he didn't approve it because the cat will just suffer being left alone when we travel and we are not going to be here in Korea long time. My husband is right so I am just contented looking pets for adoption at the Animal Rescue seeing the little cats and dogs made me wish that I am in the Philippines and I can maybe adopt them all one for myself.

Anyway if you are in Korea and want to own a pet please visit  http://www.animalrescuekorea.org - help these little guys to have a foster home and family, they need  your love and attention.

Korean Instant Noodles and Liquid Yoghurt

I was so hungry the other day but too lazy to cook so I went down to Homeway to buy instant noodles. I was a little bit hesitant on what noodles should buy because I can't read Hangul and I don't want to buy spicy food. To make the story short I just get two noodles which I think not too spicy to eat, after paying the owner told me to wait and he handed two liquid yoghurt for free.

Not sure what's the freebie for maybe the owner feel pity on me (haha). Yeah right I went down without combing my hair nor changing my home clothes which are faded and a little big for me. Hehe

Trying Gamjatang in Itaewon: A Spicy Korean Pork Bone Soup

After a short visit to Bukchon Hanok Village, my friend and I headed to Itaewon to look for a Korean restaurant. I had been wanting to try authentic Korean food beyond the Korean meals and snacks that were easy to find in convenience stores.

That day, I finally had the chance to try Gamjatang (감자탕), also known as Korean pork bone soup. It was served hot with rice and several Korean side dishes, or banchan.

The soup had a rich and savory flavor with a slightly spicy kick. The pork was tender, and the warm broth was especially satisfying after walking around Bukchon Hanok Village. It was my first time trying Gamjatang, and I enjoyed experiencing a traditional Korean dish that I had only heard about before.

What is Gamjatang?

Gamjatang is a traditional Korean spicy pork bone soup made with pork spine or ribs, vegetables, green onions, hot peppers, and ground perilla seeds. It is known for its flavorful broth and tender pork.

Despite its name, Gamjatang isn't necessarily served with potatoes. The meaning of the name “gamja” (감자) is a subject of debate, with some explanations connecting it to potatoes and others suggesting a different origin.

Gamjatang is commonly enjoyed as a hearty Korean meal and is especially popular as a comforting dish to share with friends or family.

For anyone exploring Korean cuisine in Seoul, trying Gamjatang in Itaewon is a delicious way to experience something beyond the usual Korean barbecue, bibimbap, or convenience-store snacks.